Anorexia is an eating disorder that involves someone not eating or drinking enough because they are trying to manage their thoughts and feelings. People with anorexia often have unhealthy (and untrue) beliefs about their weight and body shape. People with anorexia might also try to ‘get rid of’ the food they’ve eaten, for example, through doing lots of exercise, making themselves sick, or misusing laxatives. Anorexia is a mental illness and can cause dangerous physical health problems. It can also affect other aspects of people’s lives, for example, making it difficult for them to get an education, go to work, or look after their relationships with friends and family. With the right support, it’s possible to fully recover from anorexia. Find more in-depth information about anorexia on the Beat website.

What is avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID)?

Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) is an eating disorder where people avoid certain foods or types of food and/or don’t eat enough. ARFID is not related to body image or how someone thinks about their body weight or shape. When someone has ARFID, their eating is usually restricted because of one or more of three reasons: They’re sensitive to the way food tastes, smells, looks, or feels, or its temperature They’ve had a distressing experience with food (like choking or being in a lot of pain) so they’re anxious or afraid of eating They have a poor appetite or don’t realise they’re hungry, so they’re not motivated to eat You do not have to have a low weight to be diagnosed with ARFID, but you can’t be diagnosed if there’s another clear reason for your eating difficulties, like a medical condition that makes you lose your appetite. ARFID can have a negative impact on someone’s physical health if they don’t get enough food (or the right nutrients). It can also make day-to-day life more difficult, including going to school, college, university or work, spending time with friends, or going on holiday. With the right support, it’s possible for people with ARFID to make lots of progress with their eating, physical health, and wellbeing. Find more in-depth information about ARFID on the Beat website.

What is binge eating disorder?

Binge eating disorder is an eating disorder where people eat a large amount of food over a short period of time while not feeling in control of what they’re doing. This is not followed by trying to ‘get rid’ of the food they have eaten (though some people with binge eating disorder might try to reduce or control how much they eat between binges). Binge eating is not an enjoyable experience – it’s often really distressing, and people can find it difficult to stop even though they really want to. It can involve someone eating faster than they’d usually eat, eating until they’re uncomfortably full or in pain, and having feelings of disgust or shame. People of any weight can have binge eating disorder. It can affect their physical health as well as their mood and self-confidence. With the right support, it’s possible to fully recover from binge eating disorder. Find more in-depth information about binge eating disorder on the Beat website.

Bulimia is an eating disorder where people eat a large amount of food over a short period of time while not feeling in control of what they’re doing (bingeing). They then try to ‘get rid of’ or ‘make up for’ the food they have eaten by making themselves sick, misusing laxatives, or doing lots of exercise (purging). Binge eating is not an enjoyable experience – it’s often really distressing, and people can find it difficult to stop even though they really want to. It can involve someone eating faster than they’d usually eat, eating until they’re uncomfortably full or in pain, and having feelings of disgust or shame. Purging does not ‘get rid of’ the food someone has eaten. It also has dangerous side effects for your physical health. People of any weight can have bulimia. It is a mental illness and can cause dangerous physical health problems. It can also affect other aspects of people’s lives, for example, making it difficult for them to get an education, go to work, or look after their relationships with friends and family. With the right support, it’s possible to fully recover from bulimia. Find more in-depth information about bulimia on the Beat website.

What is other specified feeding or eating disorder?

Other specified feeding or eating disorder (OSFED) is an eating disorder that’s diagnosed when someone’s symptoms don’t exactly match the lists of symptoms that would mean they would be diagnosed with anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating disorder. They might have most (but not all) of the symptoms needed to be diagnosed with one of these eating disorders, or they might have a mixture of symptoms from the lists of symptoms of these eating disorders. People of any weight can have OSFED. It is the most common eating disorder and is just as serious as anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder. People with OSFED need and deserve help to recover and with the right support, it’s possible to fully recover from OSFED. Find more in-depth information about OSFED on the Beat website.

What thoughts and feelings are associated with eating problems and disorders?

Someone with an eating problem or disorder might: have a lot of worries around their weight and/or body shape have unrealistic ideas about what they want their body to look like, and/or not have an accurate idea of what their body really looks like spend a lot of time comparing their body or eating habits to other people’s be preoccupied with food – this means thinking about food so much that they’re distracted from other things feel like they need to be ‘in control’ when it comes to food, or feeling ‘out of control’ around food and eating set themselves really high (or impossible) standard or goals in different areas of life find it really difficult to concentrate, be irritable, or have mood swings, because they are thinking so much about food and eating, or because they’re not eating enough food to get the energy and nutrients they need feel ashamed or guilty around food, eating, or their body not believe there is a problem with their eating, or find it hard to talk about their eating or body image

What might someone with an eating problem or disorder do?

As well as eating behaviours (like not eating enough food, only eating certain types of food, binge eating, or purging) there are other behavioural signs that might suggest someone has an unhealthy relationship with food. For example, someone with an eating problem or disorder might: weigh themselves often ‘check’ their body in other ways, for example, looking in a mirror or trying clothes on wear baggy clothes to hide their body shape because they’re self-conscious about it, or to hide any changes in their weight exercise more than is healthy, including when they don’t have enough energy or when they’re not well enough be secretive around food and eating, which might include hiding food not be truthful when talking about eating and exercise (or other behaviours, like purging) take a long time to eat meals or snacks have ‘rules’ around food, eating, or exercise ‘disappear’ after eating (sometimes because they are going to purge) stop doing things they used to enjoy, such as spending time with friends be self-conscious about eating around other people, or avoid it altogether avoid social events that feature food

What are the physical signs of an eating problem or disorder?

Someone with an eating problem or disorder might: have irregular periods, or their periods might stop altogether find it difficult to sleep feel dizzy or faint have lots of stomach aches be constipated (which means they don’t poo as often or find it difficult to poo) be bloated feel cold a lot lose hair feel weak or lose their strength In the long term, eating disorders can have significant impact on someone’s body. They can lead to heart problems, damage to other organs (like the kidneys and liver), and problems with your teeth and bones. With the right support, it is possible to fully recover from an eating disorder, and the right medical help can treat lots of the physical effects.

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Eating problems and eating disorders

Find clear information on different eating problems and eating disorders, early signs to look out for, why they develop, the treatments and self‑care strategies that support recovery, and ways to help someone who’s struggling.

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What are eating problems and eating disorders?

Eating disorders are mental health conditions that involve people using disordered (unhealthy) eating behaviours to cope with thoughts, feelings, or situations. Like other mental health conditions, they are diagnosed based on specific guidelines about the signs and symptoms that mean someone has that specific eating disorder, rather than any other mental health condition.

There are lots of misconceptions about eating disorders, but they can affect people of any age or gender and can affect people from all backgrounds. People of any body weight, shape, or size can have an eating disorder – you do not have to be thin or underweight to have an eating disorder (or to be diagnosed with one).

The term ‘eating problem’ is more general – you can use it to talk about any difficult relationship with food or unhealthy eating behaviours. This page talks about both eating disorders and eating problems because you do not need to meet all of the criteria for a diagnosis of an eating disorder to need or access support.

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It’s really important that anyone who’s struggling with their relationship with food or unhealthy eating behaviours gets help as soon as possible.

Find out how to get NHS mental health support

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What is anorexia?
Anorexia is an eating disorder that involves someone not eating or drinking enough because they are trying to manage their thoughts and feelings. People with anorexia often have unhealthy (and untrue) beliefs about their weight and body shape.

People with anorexia might also try to ‘get rid of’ the food they’ve eaten, for example, through doing lots of exercise, making themselves sick, or misusing laxatives.

Anorexia is a mental illness and can cause dangerous physical health problems. It can also affect other aspects of people’s lives, for example, making it difficult for them to get an education, go to work, or look after their relationships with friends and family.

With the right support, it’s possible to fully recover from anorexia.

Find more in-depth information about anorexia on the Beat website.
What is avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID)?
Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) is an eating disorder where people avoid certain foods or types of food and/or don’t eat enough.

ARFID is not related to body image or how someone thinks about their body weight or shape.

When someone has ARFID, their eating is usually restricted because of one or more of three reasons:
- They’re sensitive to the way food tastes, smells, looks, or feels, or its temperature
- They’ve had a distressing experience with food (like choking or being in a lot of pain) so they’re anxious or afraid of eating
- They have a poor appetite or don’t realise they’re hungry, so they’re not motivated to eat
You do not have to have a low weight to be diagnosed with ARFID, but you can’t be diagnosed if there’s another clear reason for your eating difficulties, like a medical condition that makes you lose your appetite.

ARFID can have a negative impact on someone’s physical health if they don’t get enough food (or the right nutrients). It can also make day-to-day life more difficult, including going to school, college, university or work, spending time with friends, or going on holiday.

With the right support, it’s possible for people with ARFID to make lots of progress with their eating, physical health, and wellbeing.

Find more in-depth information about ARFID on the Beat website.
What is binge eating disorder?
Binge eating disorder is an eating disorder where people eat a large amount of food over a short period of time while not feeling in control of what they’re doing. This is not followed by trying to ‘get rid’ of the food they have eaten (though some people with binge eating disorder might try to reduce or control how much they eat between binges).

Binge eating is not an enjoyable experience – it’s often really distressing, and people can find it difficult to stop even though they really want to. It can involve someone eating faster than they’d usually eat, eating until they’re uncomfortably full or in pain, and having feelings of disgust or shame.

People of any weight can have binge eating disorder. It can affect their physical health as well as their mood and self-confidence.

With the right support, it’s possible to fully recover from binge eating disorder.

Find more in-depth information about binge eating disorder on the Beat website.
What is bulimia?
Bulimia is an eating disorder where people eat a large amount of food over a short period of time while not feeling in control of what they’re doing (bingeing). They then try to ‘get rid of’ or ‘make up for’ the food they have eaten by making themselves sick, misusing laxatives, or doing lots of exercise (purging).

Binge eating is not an enjoyable experience – it’s often really distressing, and people can find it difficult to stop even though they really want to. It can involve someone eating faster than they’d usually eat, eating until they’re uncomfortably full or in pain, and having feelings of disgust or shame.

Purging does not ‘get rid of’ the food someone has eaten. It also has dangerous side effects for your physical health.

People of any weight can have bulimia. It is a mental illness and can cause dangerous physical health problems. It can also affect other aspects of people’s lives, for example, making it difficult for them to get an education, go to work, or look after their relationships with friends and family.

With the right support, it’s possible to fully recover from bulimia.

Find more in-depth information about bulimia on the Beat website.
What is other specified feeding or eating disorder?
Other specified feeding or eating disorder (OSFED) is an eating disorder that’s diagnosed when someone’s symptoms don’t exactly match the lists of symptoms that would mean they would be diagnosed with anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating disorder.

They might have most (but not all) of the symptoms needed to be diagnosed with one of these eating disorders, or they might have a mixture of symptoms from the lists of symptoms of these eating disorders.

People of any weight can have OSFED. It is the most common eating disorder and is just as serious as anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder. People with OSFED need and deserve help to recover and with the right support, it’s possible to fully recover from OSFED.

Find more in-depth information about OSFED on the Beat website.

Symptoms and signs of eating problems and disorders

Eating problems are diverse and so are eating disorders. There are lots of signs that someone might be developing an unhealthy relationship with food and eating, and the five eating disorders that can be diagnosed in the UK have their own lists of symptoms.

Did you know?

It’s important to know that changes in someone’s weight are not the main sign of an eating problem or disorder. People with disordered eating might gain weight, lose weight, or stay the same weight.

We all think about food, because it’s part of our everyday lives. It’s normal to experience ‘cravings’ for food, and to sometimes eat more than usual (for example, eating more than is comfortable during a meal to celebrate special occasion). It’s also really common to feel pressure to ‘eat healthier’ or to want to change the way your body looks. But there are some signs that these more common experiences might be becoming a problem.

You can find links to the common signs of specific eating disorders through the named links above, but there are also some general signs that someone might have (or be developing) an unhealthy relationship with food.

What thoughts and feelings are associated with eating problems and disorders?
Someone with an eating problem or disorder might:
- have a lot of worries around their weight and/or body shape
- have unrealistic ideas about what they want their body to look like, and/or not have an accurate idea of what their body really looks like
- spend a lot of time comparing their body or eating habits to other people’s
- be preoccupied with food – this means thinking about food so much that they’re distracted from other things
- feel like they need to be ‘in control’ when it comes to food, or feeling ‘out of control’ around food and eating
- set themselves really high (or impossible) standard or goals in different areas of life
- find it really difficult to concentrate, be irritable, or have mood swings, because they are thinking so much about food and eating, or because they’re not eating enough food to get the energy and nutrients they need
- feel ashamed or guilty around food, eating, or their body
- not believe there is a problem with their eating, or find it hard to talk about their eating or body image
What might someone with an eating problem or disorder do?
As well as eating behaviours (like not eating enough food, only eating certain types of food, binge eating, or purging) there are other behavioural signs that might suggest someone has an unhealthy relationship with food.

For example, someone with an eating problem or disorder might:
- weigh themselves often
- ‘check’ their body in other ways, for example, looking in a mirror or trying clothes on
- wear baggy clothes to hide their body shape because they’re self-conscious about it, or to hide any changes in their weight
- exercise more than is healthy, including when they don’t have enough energy or when they’re not well enough
- be secretive around food and eating, which might include hiding food
- not be truthful when talking about eating and exercise (or other behaviours, like purging)
- take a long time to eat meals or snacks
- have ‘rules’ around food, eating, or exercise
- ‘disappear’ after eating (sometimes because they are going to purge)
- stop doing things they used to enjoy, such as spending time with friends
- be self-conscious about eating around other people, or avoid it altogether
- avoid social events that feature food
What are the physical signs of an eating problem or disorder?
Someone with an eating problem or disorder might:
- have irregular periods, or their periods might stop altogether
- find it difficult to sleep
- feel dizzy or faint
- have lots of stomach aches
- be constipated (which means they don’t poo as often or find it difficult to poo)
- be bloated
- feel cold a lot
- lose hair
- feel weak or lose their strength
In the long term, eating disorders can have significant impact on someone’s body. They can lead to heart problems, damage to other organs (like the kidneys and liver), and problems with your teeth and bones.

With the right support, it is possible to fully recover from an eating disorder, and the right medical help can treat lots of the physical effects.

How do you know if you have an eating problem or eating disorder?

An eating problem is not a medical diagnosis, so there are not specific signs or symptoms you need to have. If you’re experiencing some of the thoughts and feelings from the lists of signs listed in the section above or find that you have a difficult relationship with food and eating, it may suggest that you have an eating problem.

An eating disorder is a mental health condition that’s diagnosed by a medical professional. They diagnose people based on specific guidelines about the signs and symptoms that mean they have a specific eating disorder, rather than any other mental health condition.

To be diagnosed with an eating disorder, you’ll usually need to talk to a specialist eating disorder service. In some areas, you can contact your local specialist eating disorder service yourself and ask for their support, but in some places you need your GP to refer you (this means that the GP sends your details on to the service, so they can contact you and offer you an appointment).

If you’re struggling with unhealthy eating behaviours or your relationship with food, you deserve help and it’s important to get support as soon as possible. This is true whether you think you have an eating problem or an eating disorder.

We know that getting support quickly can make it easier to recover, but no matter how long someone has been struggling with an eating problem or disorder, full recovery is always possible.

With the right support, it is possible to fully recover from an eating disorder, and the right medical help can treat lots of the physical effects.

How does an eating problem or eating disorder impact someone's life?

Eating problems and disorders can have a big impact on people’s everyday lives.

People with eating problems often feel anxious and stressed about food. This can also affect their mood – it’s common for people with an eating disorder to also be diagnosed with another mental health condition such as depression or an anxiety disorder.

Eating problems can affect day-to-day life, including things like education, work, and friendships. If you’re not eating enough, for example, you won’t have enough energy to do the things that are important to you. It’s also common to be preoccupied by thinking about food and eating, which means you spend so much time thinking about it that you’re not able to focus on other things (like learning or engaging with friends).

The fact that someone’s not eating enough food can make it difficult for them to recognise or understand that they have an eating problem. If they’re not getting enough energy, their brain will not be able to focus, think clearly, and understand and process information – and so they might not be able to see how their eating problem is affecting their life.

And eating disorders can have serious physical side effects. Lots of people feel tired, or cold, and they can also cause serious damage to your organs (like your heart and liver), bones, and teeth.

Some people experience delayed gastric emptying, which means food passes through their stomach slower than it should. This happens because the muscles that push food through their digestive system become weak. It can cause pain, sickness, and feeling full before they’ve eaten enough food, which can make recovery challenging because it makes it uncomfortable to get used to eating enough food again.

With the right support, it is possible to fully recover from an eating disorder, and the right medical help can treat lots of the physical effects.

What causes eating disorders?

There’s no simple explanation about what causes an eating disorder. Most of the time, it’s likely that a combination of different things contributes to someone developing an eating disorder.

We know that eating disorders are not a choice – they are a complex mental illness.

Childhood experiences

Going through difficult experiences when you’re a child or young person, and the distress that they cause, might be part of the reason someone develops eating problems. People often think of ‘difficult experiences’ as a big, traumatic event. But going through multiple smaller difficult experiences can also have a big impact.

Life events

Almost everyone will experience some things that are stressful or upsetting (like a relationship ending, work stress, or someone they love dying) at some point. For some people, these stressful situations may trigger eating problems or make it even harder to manage a relationship with food that’s already difficult.

Major life changes

Some people start to develop eating problems at the same time as big changes in their lives, such as puberty, moving schools or homes, starting a new job, or exploring their sexuality or gender identity.

Society and culture

It’s unlikely that social pressure is the only cause of someone’s eating problems, but it can play a part. It can also make things worse for people who are struggling. It can feel like cultural pressure to look and eat in certain ways can be everywhere, in advertising, social media, and TV shows and films, as well as from other people in your life.

Treatment for an eating problem or eating disorder

If you’re struggling with unhealthy eating behaviours or your relationship with food, you deserve help and it’s important to get support as soon as possible.

We know that getting support quickly can make it easier to recover, but no matter how long someone has been struggling with an eating disorder, full recovery is always possible.

Talk to your GP

Treatment for eating disorders might include talking therapies such as family-based therapy (especially if you’re a young person who’s living at home with parents or carers) or cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). You might also talk to a dietitian who can help you learn more about how to eat in a healthy way and get the energy and nutrients you need.

The exact treatment you’re offered will depend on a few things, including whether you are diagnosed with a specific eating disorder, your age, and your experiences. The Beat website has information on treatment for anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder.

Beat - anorexia

beateatingdisorders.org.uk/get-information-and-support/about-eating-disorders/types/anorexia/treatment/

Beat - bulimia

beateatingdisorders.org.uk/get-information-and-support/about-eating-disorders/types/bulimia/treatment/

Beat - binge eating disorder

beateatingdisorders.org.uk/get-information-and-support/about-eating-disorders/types/binge-eating-disorder/treatment/

Is there medication for eating disorders?

At the moment, there are no specific medications that treat eating disorders. Some people with eating disorders are offered medication alongside talking therapy if they have another mental health condition (such as depression or anxiety) as well as an eating problem.

Watch this video to find out more about treatment and recovery from bulimia:

Watch on YouTube

Recovery and looking after yourself if you have an eating disorder

With the right support, it is possible to fully recover from an eating disorder or eating problems.

Recovery is often a long process – it can take time to change your relationship with food and the way you think about eating and your body.

At times, recovery might feel scary and overwhelming, especially if you’re worried or afraid of your weight changing, or if you’re used to living with eating problems and aren’t sure what your life (or identity) would be like without them.

You might hear people saying that recovery is not linear – this means that it isn’t always like following a straight line. Sometimes your progress might be faster or slower, and sometimes you might face setbacks or relapses – but this does not mean that you are not making progress. No matter how many times you have experienced a relapse, it is still possible to make a full recovery.

Here are some things that other people with eating problems and disorders have found helpful as they recover:

Talk to someone you trust

It can make a big difference for a trusted adult to understand how you’re feeling. They might be able to help you at difficult points, like mealtimes, especially if you work together to make a plan of how they can support you if you’re struggling.

Find reasons to recover

Some people find it helpful to write (or draw, or collage) things that motivate them to recover. This might be things they’re looking forward to doing when they’re feeling better, like spending time with friends, or big achievements they want to work towards when they’re well enough.

Sort out your wardrobe

If recovery involves changes to your weight, it can be helpful to get rid of clothes that no longer fit by donating or selling them online. If you can, buying some clothes that are comfortable can be a helpful step – you could check out local charity shops or online second-hand clothing platforms if you’re on a budget.

Explore safe distractions

Some people find that it’s helpful to have ways of distracting themselves from difficult thoughts, urges, or bodily sensations. You might need to find distractions that don’t involve much movement, like arts and crafts, card or board games, or watching a favourite TV show.

Cope with feeling full

For some people, recovering means eating more food than they are used to, which can feel uncomfortable. Using hot water bottles (or heating pads) or drinking mint tea can help with this discomfort.

Identify possible triggers

We all go through difficult situations in life, and it can be helpful to think ahead about anything that might mean you experience difficult thoughts and feelings so you can make a plan to cope in a healthy way. You might want to plan for celebrations, stressful things like exams, or life changes like moving house or school, for example.

Make a self-soothe box

Self-soothe boxes are filled with items that can help you cope when things feel overwhelming. What you put in a self-soothe box is up to you, but people often choose items that help them engage with their senses.

How to get more help if you have an eating problem or eating disorder

Urgent help

Emergency?

If anyone is in immediate danger, call 999 now.

If you need urgent help for mental or physical health, call NHS 111 or get help from NHS 111 online.

If you have an eating problem (or have been diagnosed with an eating disorder but are struggling to manage), you should make an appointment with your GP (or the mental health service supporting you, if you’re already accessing mental health care). Find out more about getting help from an NHS GP in England.

You could ask an adult you trust to help you make the appointment or to go with you, if you would find that helpful.

The Beat website has a leaflet that’s designed for people to take to a GP appointment to help them get a referral from their GP to an eating disorders specialist.

Beat – GP leaflet (first steps)

beateatingdisorders.org.uk/resource-index-page/gp-leaflet-first-steps/

Sometimes, people find it difficult to get help because they have spoken to someone who does not understand eating disorders or because the decisions that have been made about their care are confusing or haven’t been explained.

The Beat website has a page that helps people get more information about the decisions that have been made about their treatment and explains how to challenge a decision if you think it’s wrong.

Beat – overturning bad decisions (and understanding good ones)

beateatingdisorders.org.uk/get-information-and-support/get-help-for-myself/overturning-bad-decisions/

Text NATTER for help

Anyone can text ‘NATTER’ to 85258 to seek  help, wherever they are in the UK. It’s a free, anonymous service and available 24/7.
More about NATTER

Text NATTER to 85258 Find other mental health helplines

AI-generated message on smartphone with colourful streaming lines against a starry background.

How to help someone else with an eating problem or eating disorder

If someone you care about has eating problems or an eating disorder, it can be difficult to know how to support them. As well as being a good friend and including them in the things you do, there are some things you could try to help them.

Learn about eating problems

If you learn more about eating problems, other people experiencing them don’t have to spend as much time raising awareness. It also means you can better understand what’s going on for them, which can be really helpful if they do something you find difficult, like getting upset around food.

Avoid unhelpful comments

It’s not helpful to comment on changes in people’s bodies, to expect them to ‘just eat normally’ and recover, or to remind them about other people who are experiencing difficult things (or who don’t have access to food). You can also remove potential triggers, like not watching TV shows about dietary changes or people’s bodies when you’re together.

Know it's not your job to 'fix' them

It’s hard to see someone you care about struggling with eating problems, but there’s no way for you to heal someone else. It is not possible, and the person you love cannot just ‘decide’ to be better either. All you can do is continue to support them as they work towards their own recovery.

Listen to what they tell you

Everyone has their own experience of their eating problem, so it’s really important to listen to people if they want to tell you what it’s like for them. It’s OK to ask how you can help, too, or if there’s anything you need to know about how they communicate.

Take care of yourself

It’s always important to take care of yourself while supporting others, but when someone has eating problems, it can be helpful to ‘set a good example’ by doing things like eating meals and snacks and resting when you need it.

Do normal 'friend stuff'

When someone’s struggling with their mental health, spending time together talking about shared interests (or doing a hobby you both enjoy) can help them feel more like themselves again. This might mean continuing to invite someone to do stuff, even if they’re not always able to say yes, or adapting activities to involve less movement if they need to rest.

Support them to get more help

You could offer to go with them to speak to a trusted adult or help them decide who they could talk to. It can be difficult for people to open up, but speaking to an adult they trust is often the first step towards them getting the help they need. Sometimes, you might need to tell an adult about your concerns if a friend wants to keep unhealthy eating problems hidden.

Watch this video to find out more about helping someone who has an eating disorder: